M&C Saatchi has announced the appointment of Rob Doubal and Laurence Thomson as the UK-listed agency group’s new global joint chief creative officers (CCOs). Known across the industry as Rob and Lolly, the duo joins M&C Saatchi from McCann London, where they held the position of joint CCOs of McCann UK and co-presidents McCann London.
This is a newly created role and will be critical as M&C Saatchi rolls out its new operating model, providing a central focal point for the Group’s creative ambition and activities.
Says Justin Graham, M&C Saatchi Group CEO AUNZ: “This is a powerful announcement for the global M&C Saatchi Group business and I’m thrilled to welcome Rob and Lolly to our creative ranks.
“The incredible credentials and renowned creativity the duo will bring are testament to the direction the global M&C Saatchi Group business is going. This underlying commitment to drive innovation through our people and our delivery of creative excellence is echoed in Australia and New Zealand as recently seen by the appointment of M&C Saatchi Group AUNZ CCO, Steve Coll, late last year.
“Together, with Steve’s powerhouse creative team that has recently welcomed Scott Dettrick who joins Emma Robbins as joint national ECD, we firmly believe in the strength of our team’s ambition. As we roll as one, it is our collective priority to elevate our agency group offer as the leading creative solutions partner for our valued clients.”
Over the last two decades Rob & Lolly have delivered award-winning creative, strategic and innovative work for the likes of Xbox, Just Eat, Microsoft, Aldi, and SKY, including 100+ Cannes Lions, and over 800 awards from the major international shows.
Rob and Lolly first joined forces in 2006, blazing a trail at Mother London and Wieden+Kennedy. Moving to McCann London in 2012, they were promoted to regional chief creative officers across the UK in 2019.
Campaign’s Simon Gwynn previously said that Rob and Lolly ‘give the impression of guys who have spent plenty of time trying to make each other laugh over the years’, and the pair admit that fostering a fun and creative culture, whilst nurturing and recruiting diverse international talent, is something they’re excited to do in their new roles.
Says Rob and Lolly: We couldn’t be more delighted to be joining M&C Saatchi as global CCOs. It’s an agency with one the most famous names in advertising history and a legacy of creative brilliance. A truly iconic brand with some fantastic offices around the world. Driving fame and commerce by leveraging art and creativity is what we love to do and joining the new team with a shared ambition to make M&C Saatchi a global powerhouse with creativity at its core got us very excited. Given the speed of change in our industry, harnessing M&C Saatchi’s ‘brutal simplicity of thought’ philosophy with Zaid and the teams was an opportunity we simply couldn’t turn down. We can’t wait to get started.”
Their appointment was announced by Zillah Byng-Thorne, executive chair, and welcomed by incoming global CEO, Zaid Al-Qassab.
Says Byng-Thorne: “I am delighted to welcome Rob & Lolly as global chief creative officers of M&C Saatchi. Their creative vision combines with a passion for doing the best for clients, and I expect them to make a huge cultural impact on all parts of the M&C Saatchi Group, which will produce world-class creativity and business results.”
Says Al-Qassab: “I was wowed by Rob and Lolly’s passion for innovation and commitment to creative excellence throughout the recruitment process. Their unique way of looking at the world, and track record of success with iconic and category disrupting campaigns, will undoubtedly drive transformative results for our clients. I am thrilled to welcome them onboard and look forward to the incredible impact they will make.”
Rob and Lolly will officially assume their roles as joint CCOs M&C Saatchi later this year.
